BS in Family Sciences | Online Child Development Degree

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120

Credit Hours

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100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

See How a Bachelor’s in Child Development Connects Passion with Purpose

Have you ever wondered how children learn, grow, and build connections with the world around them? Our Bachelor of Science (BS) in Family Sciences – Child Development can help you explore those questions in depth. This program is designed for students like you who want to understand both children and the families that support them.

With a child development degree online, you can prepare to step into roles that allow you to make a difference. You can help parents build stronger relationships with their kids, guide schools and community programs focusing on children’s needs, and contribute to resources that improve family life. Maybe you’re wondering, “What can you do with a child development degree?” The answer often points back to supporting children in ways that can ripple out to entire communities.

The child development bachelor’s degree is about taking your interest in human development and turning it into service. Whether you’re exploring how to become a child development specialist, wondering what education is required to be a child development specialist, or simply asking what you can do with a family science degree, this program can help you connect your education with opportunities to support children and families where it matters most.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Bachelor of Science (BS) in Family Sciences – Child Development.

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No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s in Family Sciences – Child Development Online Degree? 

Choosing the right program matters. Liberty’s online child development degree connects you with faculty who care about weaving together theory, practice, and service. The curriculum doesn’t just cover the basics of childhood growth – it invites you to think about what you can do with a child development degree and how this field impacts families, schools, and communities.

If you’re looking for an online family studies degree that emphasizes Christian values, we have just what you need. Our program seeks to help you think carefully about ethics and responsibility when working with children and families. Whether you’re considering what you can do with a family science degree or looking ahead to graduate study, this program encourages you to see how strong families create stronger communities.

Plus, pursuing Liberty’s child development degree online means you can access the same rigorous academics that residential students receive – but in a way that fits your lifestyle. With resources like academic support, career guidance, and a flexible structure, you can feel supported and equipped to take the next step in your education.

What Will You Study as a Child Development Major?

This child development major blends foundational family sciences topics with specialized study of children’s growth from birth through adolescence. Early courses will begin exploring the foundations of family sciences. These early studies can help give you the tools to think about how families grow and change over time and how different cultures and communities shape family life.

Additionally, you’ll dive into subjects focusing on child development at every stage. You’ll study how infants and toddlers learn, how children continue to grow during the early years of school, and how teens face new challenges as they approach adulthood. This program also examines how play, behavior, and family interactions affect a child’s overall development.

You can look closely at the responsibilities of supporting families and children in real-world settings. You’ll study the choices families make, programs that can help strengthen family life, and the ethical and legal issues affecting children today. Finally, you can participate in a capstone course that combines everything you’ve studied, helping you reflect on how to use this degree in child development to support children, families, and communities.

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Child Development Courses

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan coming soon 

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no additional cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!

Undergraduate Full Time	$390/Credit
Undergraduate Part Time	$455/Credit
Military Undergraduate	$250/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our Bachelor’s in Family Sciences – Online Child Development Degree

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.

Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.

Transcript Policies

High School Transcript Policy

Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.

Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.

Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.

The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.

Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Military Transfers

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.

Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

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Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
Potential college credit for military training

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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BS in Family Sciences – Child Development Degree Help Kids Grow Stronger, Families Grow Closer, and Communities Grow Better

See How a Bachelor’s in Child Development Connects Passion with Purpose

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s in Family Sciences – Child Development Online Degree?

What Will You Study as a Child Development Major?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Child Development Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Bachelor’s in Family Sciences – Online Child Development Degree

Admission Requirements

Transcript Policies

Military Transfers

International Applicants

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s in Family Sciences – Child Development Online Degree? 